SUBCHAPTER IV
ELECTRICAL WIRING AND ELECTRICIANS
101.80 Definitions. In this subchapter:
(1g)"Electric cooperative" has the meaning given in s. 196.025 (5) (ag).
(1j)"Electricity provider" means a public utility, an electric cooperative, or a wholesale merchant plant operator.
(1m)"Electrical wiring" means all equipment, wiring, material, fittings, devices, appliances, fixtures, and apparatus used for the production, modification, regulation, control, distribution, utilization, or safeguarding of electrical energy for mechanical, chemical, cosmetic, heating, lighting, or similar purposes, as specified under the state electrical wiring code. "Electrical wiring" does not include the equipment, wiring, material, fittings, devices, appliances, fixtures, and apparatus used by a public utility, an electric cooperative, or a wholesale merchant operator for the purpose of generating, transmitting, distributing, or controlling heat, light, power, or natural gas to its customers or members.
(1r)"Municipality" means a city, town, village, or county.
(3)"Public utility" has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (5).
(4)"State electrical wiring code" means the rules promulgated under s. 101.82 (1) for electrical wiring.
(5)"Wholesale merchant plant operator" means the operator of a wholesale merchant plant, as defined in s. 196.491 (1) (w).
101.82 Departmental duties. The department shall:
(1)Promulgate by rule a state electrical wiring code that establishes standards for installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical wiring. Where feasible, the rules shall reflect nationally recognized standards.
(1m)Promulgate rules that establish criteria and procedures for the registration of beginning electricians and for the examination and licensing of different types of electricians, including journeymen electricians and master electricians.
(1r)Promulgate rules that establish requirements for the supervision of beginning electricians.
(1v)Promulgate rules that establish criteria and procedures for the licensing of electrical contractors.
(2)Promulgate rules that establish criteria and procedures for the certification of electrical inspectors for the purpose of inspecting electrical wiring.
(2m)Promulgate rules that establish standards and a process for the inspection of electrical wiring, including the inspection of electrical wiring for which a municipality does not provide inspection under s. 101.86 (1).
(3r)Promulgate rules that establish criteria and a process for the suspension or revocation of registrations issued to beginning electricians, licenses issued to electricians and electrical contractors, and certifications issued to electrical inspectors.
(4)Establish by rule a schedule of fees sufficient to defray the costs incurred under this subchapter.
101.84 Departmental powers. The department may:
(1)Hold hearings on any matter relating to this subchapter and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence at the hearings.
(3)Promulgate rules to differentiate the scope of installation, repair, or maintenance of electrical wiring that may be performed by electrical contractors and by different types of electricians, including beginning electricians, journeymen electricians, and master electricians.
101.86 Municipal authority.
(1)Municipalities may:
(a) Enact an electrical code or otherwise exercise jurisdiction over electrical wiring and inspection of electrical wiring by enactment of ordinances. An ordinance enacted under this paragraph may not be less restrictive than this subchapter. A county ordinance shall apply in any city, village or town which has not enacted such an ordinance.
(b) Under s. 66.0301, jointly exercise the jurisdiction granted under par. (a).
(c) By ordinance, establish and collect fees to defray the cost of jurisdiction exercised under par. (a) or (b).
(d) By ordinance, provide remedies and penalties for violation of the jurisdiction exercised under par. (a) or (b).
(3)
(a) The cost of inspection services provided by any county that has enacted an ordinance under sub. (1), if not defrayed by fees, shall be charged to or taxed against the property within those cities, villages, and towns in the county that have not enacted an ordinance under sub. (1).
(b) No part of the cost of inspection services, if not defrayed by fees, may be charged to or taxed against the property within any city, village, or town that has enacted an ordinance under sub. (1).
101.861 Municipal licensing authority.
(1)Any ordinance enacted by a municipality that relates to licensure or certification of electrical contractors or electricians pursuant to the municipality's authority under s. 101.865, 2005 stats., or s. 101.87, 2005 stats., and that is in existence on March 19, 2008, shall remain in effect until April 1, 2014, but may not be amended or repealed during this time period. Beginning on April 1, 2014, such an ordinance is no longer in effect, and municipalities may no longer impose any registration, licensing, or certification requirements on electrical contractors, electricians, or electrical inspectors.
(2)Beginning on March 28, 2013, and ending on March 31, 2014, all of the following apply:
(a) Any municipal ordinance that was in existence on March 19, 2008, and that imposed any licensing, registration, or certification requirements on electrical contractors, electricians, or electrical inspectors shall not apply to electrical contractors, electricians, or electrical inspectors who are licensed, registered, or certified by the department under this subchapter.
(b) A municipality that had an ordinance in existence on March 19, 2008, for licensing, registering, or certifying electrical contractors, electricians, or electrical inspectors may issue and renew licenses, registrations, or certifications but such licenses, registrations, and certifications are not valid after March 31, 2014.
101.862 License, registration, or certification required.
(1) No person may engage in the business of installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring unless the person is licensed as an electrical contractor by the department.
(2)No person may install, repair, or maintain electrical wiring unless the person is licensed as an electrician by the department or unless the person is registered as a beginning electrician by the department.
(3)No person who is not a master electrician may install, repair, or maintain electrical wiring unless a master electrician is at all times responsible for the person's work.
(4) Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply to any of the following:
(a) A residential property owner who installs, repairs, or maintains electrical wiring on premises that the property owner owns and occupies as a residence, unless a license or registration issued by the department is required by local ordinance.
(b) A person engaged in maintaining or repairing electrical wiring within a facility or on premises owned or leased by the person or by an entity for which the person is an agent.
(c) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring, apparatus, or equipment for elevators and escalators.
(d) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining equipment or systems that operate at 100 volts or less.
(e) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining an electronic system designed to monitor a premises for the presence of an emergency, to issue an alarm for an emergency, or to detect and summon aid for an emergency.
(f) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring of transmission facilities, as defined in s. 196.01 (12).
(g) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining manufactured equipment or a manufactured system that is designed to provide a function that is not primarily electrical in nature if the installation, repair, or maintenance does not involve the modification or installation of conductors beyond the disconnecting point or beyond the last junction, pull, or device box, whichever is nearer to the point where the person is performing the installation, repair, or maintenance.
(h) A person engaged in installing electrical wiring for components of a manufactured home, as defined in s. 101.91 (2), or a manufactured building, as defined in s. 101.71 (6), while the manufactured home or the manufactured building is at or in the facility at which it is being manufactured.
(i) A person employed by an electricity provider, or a subcontractor of an electricity provider, who installs, repairs, or maintains electrical wiring for equipment that is installed in the normal course of providing utility services by the electricity provider.
(j) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring that provides lighting or signals for public thoroughfares and for public airports.
(k) A person engaged in installing, repairing, or maintaining electric lines on the utility side of substations and other distribution facilities owned or operated by customers or members of electricity providers.
(L) A person employed by an electricity provider, or a subcontractor of an electricity provider, who installs, repairs, or maintains primary voltage electric facilities that are owned by the electricity provider's customers or members and that operate at greater than 600 volts.
(m) A person employed by an electricity provider, or a subcontractor of an electricity provider, who restores service during an emergency.